Director, Nursing Professional Development & Practice

hhc; Warner Robins (GA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Emory Healthcare is seeking a Director of Nursing Professional Development and Practice to provide strategic leadership for nursing education and practice standards across the system. This role oversees CNPS and clinical nurse specialists to ensure expert development and evidence-based care.

You will design and implement comprehensive education programs, onboarding strategies, and governance of policies and protocols, promoting patient- and family-centered care and high reliability.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nursing or related field.
• 7 years minimum experience with at least 3 years of nursing leadership experience in nursing education or practice.
• Active, unencumbered nursing license approved by the Georgia state licensing board.
• BLS certification

Responsibilities

• Direct all aspects of nursing education programs, including nurse residency, onboarding, continuing education, and simulation-based learning.
• Develop and implement structured transition-to-practice programs for new graduates and experienced nurses.
• Provide leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of initial and ongoing competencies.
• Lead initiatives to advance nursing staff competency and lifelong learning through evidence-based education strategies.
• Collaborate with CNPS to ensure clinical education integrates evidence-based practice and care transformation priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Change Management

Project Management

Evidence-based Practice

Communication

Engagement

Education

Master's degree in Nursing or related field

Job description

Work Shift: Day - 8 Hour (United States of America)

The Director of Nursing Professional Development and Practice provides strategic leadership for nursing education and practice standards across the organization. This role oversees Nursing Professional Development Practitioners or Specialists and/or Clinical Nurse Practice Specialists to ensure excellence in nursing professional development and evidence-based practice, and high-reliability nursing care. The Director ensures alignment between system-wide practice standards, CNPS-led clinical innovation, operational goals to support safe and outcomes-driven care across entities. The Director is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive education programs and onboarding strategies, while also leading the development, standardization, and maintenance of nursing practice documents, policies, and protocols. The position promotes patient- and family-centered care, optimal clinical outcomes, and alignment with organizational goals.

Primary duties and responsibilities

Professional Development and Education

1. 1. Direct all aspects of nursing education programs, including nurse residency, onboarding, continuing education, and simulation-based learning.
2. 2. Develop and implement structured transition-to-practice programs for new graduates and experienced nurses.
3. 3. Provides leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of initial and ongoing competencies.
4. 4. Lead initiatives to advance nursing staff competency and lifelong learning through evidence-based education strategies.
5. 5. Collaborate with CNPS to ensure clinical education integrates evidence-based practice and care transformation priorities.

Practice Standards and Clinical Governance

1. 1. Provide leadership for the development, revision, and standardization of nursing policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines across the health system.
2. 2. Ensure incorporation of current clinical evidence into all nursing practice documents.
3. 3. Partners with system and entity practice councils, CNPSs, and clinical leaders to align practice standards and promote consistency.
4. 4. Establishes, revises, administers and communicates policies, procedures and related forms in accordance with state, federal, and organizational guidelines.
5. 5. Communicates and monitors compliance with regulatory, licensing and accreditation standards.
6. 6. Integrate CNPS-led initiative such as evidence translation, clinical gap analysis and real-time accountability structures into practice governance.

Leadership and Collaboration

1. 1. Supervise and mentor Nursing Professional Development Practitioners or Specialists, and/or Clinical Nurse Practice Specialists, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
2. 2. Partner with system Nursing Professional Development Team, quality, infection prevention, regulatory, and patient safety leaders to ensure readiness and compliance within clinical documents.
3. 3. Actively demonstrate change management principles and lead organizational initiatives to improve nursing practice and education.
4. 4. Participate in professional activities and organizations to maintain knowledge of current trends, practices, and developments.

Performance Improvement and Innovation

1. 1. Design and implement structures and processes that promote high reliability and automation in nursing practice.
2. 2. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes, staff engagement, and operational efficiency.
3. 3. Leverage CNPS expertise in data analysis, nursing sensitive indicators, and performance dashboards to inform system strategy.
4. 4. Support clinical research and implementation science to translate evidence into practice.

Resources and Budget Management

1. 1. Prepare and manage departmental budgets for education programs and practice standardization initiatives.
2. 2. Allocate resources effectively to support strategic priorities and monitor expenditures for fiscal responsibility.
3. 3. Leverage CNPS insights on clinical outcomes, care variability, and practice gaps into strategic planning, workforce forecasting, and system readiness.

Additional Duties as Assigned.

Travel

Some travel may be required between operating units and Emory affiliated sites

Work Type

On-site employee - Works in the office or at a physical workplace, interacting with colleagues face-to-face

Minimum Required Qualifications

• - Education - Master's degree in Nursing or related field
• - Experience - 7 years minimum experience with at least 3 years of nursing leadership experience in nursing education or practice
• - Licensure - Active, unencumbered nursing license approved by the Georgia state licensing board
• - Certification - BLS

Knowledge, skills, and abilities (required)

• - Demonstrated competency in leadership, change management, project management, and evidence-based practice.
• - Excellent communication, engagement, and problem-solving skills.
• - Strong ability to synthesize information from multiple stakeholders quickly.
• - Demonstrated